Single & Pregnant: Which Last Name Should You Give Your Baby?

If you find yourself pregnant and not married, one question you might have is which last name do you give your baby?

For starters, you can give the baby any surname you want. Whether it be your last name, the father's last name or a hyphenated version of the two.

When I became pregnant, I was not married. (I am still not married.) I personally chose to give my child my last name. His father was not involved from the time I was a few months pregnant - up until now. He does not share in the responsibility or the joys of our child. I did not want child support 12 years ago, and I still do not want child support from him. I made the decision about choosing my child's last name prior to us breaking up.

I have friends who chose to give their babies the father's last name, whether it be by marriage or they were single and wanted the child to have their father's last name. However, my friends that are divorced choose to keep their married last name because it is easier with them having the same last name as their child. I can understand this. I have never been asked if my child is mine, because we have the same last name. I want my child to have the same last name as me.

You can look at all options and make your own decision, but decide what you think is best for you and your baby. Even if the father is involved or iIf the fathers' only involvement is by paying child support, the decision of selecting your child's last name is yours.

Like I said, I had already made the decision about my son's last name prior to his father and I splitting up, but I am glad that I did. I did not want his father or his father's family to have the "honor" of having my child take their last name.

And another thing to consider (and this is one of those things that could happen and is just something that I have thought about in my situation) Now my son and I have the same last name. Let's say I get married- since my son and I have the same last name I would, more than likely, choose to hyphenate my maiden name and my married last name. Let's say I have another baby. That baby has my husband's last name. Just for the sake of making this point, let's imagine that we get divorced- I choose to keep my hyphenated last name. Now all of my children share part of the same last name with me.

Each single mother needs to make the best decision for her and her baby in their situation. No one way is the correct way. Whichever way you choose is the correct one for you.